bordered by a double row of teeth; fruit-stalk terminal and arched at the top like a swan's neck; capsule oblong, slightly drooping; lid convex, with a small point; in both these mosses the fringe is double, and forms a beautiful object for the microscope. Fruiting in May or June.
Polytrichum formosum rejoices in open woods, and forms extensive loose tufts. The stems are often five or six inches high, and are terminated by long fawn-coloured fruit-stalks. The capsules are large, four or five angled, and slightly swollen at the base, this swollen portion being called the apophysis, [Plate IV, Fig. 14 c.] The mouth of the capsule is closed by a reticulated diaphragm, (Fig. 21 c,) and fringed by sixty-four short, pale teeth, The lid is long and rostrate, (Fig. 13 a,) and the calyptra is clothed with numerous down-like hairs.
Hypnum triquetrum is frequent in many woods and on shady banks; grows in tall, rigid, shining tufts, several inches long, yellowish-green. The stems are red, and more or less branched, The stem leaves much recurved, clasping the stem at the base, thence gradually tapering to an acute point, minutely toothed on the margin, and striated or streaked on the surface; and with a lens two parallel veins will be seen, reaching mere than half way up the leaf. The fruit-stalks proceeds from the side of the stem, bearing a short slightly curved capsule, with a conical lid. The fringe is double (Fig, 20, a,b.)
Hypnum tamariscinum is fond of like places, and occurs in loose, deep green tufts, This is one of the most beautiful of the feather mosses. The stem is tripinnate, and more or less clothed with numerous branched thread-like bodies (villi.) The leaves are heart-shaped, toothed on the margin, and covered on both surfaces with minute projections (papillæ.) This moss is often proliferous, i.e., produces young plants from various parts of its surface, Hence the old name H. proliferum. The fruit is lateral and very rarely seen.
Dicranum scoparium is a beautiful moss occurring on marly banks and in woods, growing in yellowish tints, The leaves are turned to one side and curved like a falchiun, narrow lance-shaped, and sharply toothed. The nerve is well marked, and has several projecting ridges on the back. The fruit-stalk is terminal, the capsule curved, lid long and rostrate, (13a,) and the fringe consists of sixteen deep-red cloven teeth, beautifully marked with transverse bars, Fruiting in July.
[To be continued.]
Freshwater Life.—III. Infusoria.
By Edwin Smith, M.A.
(Continued from page 292.)
Interesting as the sedentary Infusoria prove, the more closely they are studied, those kinds which swim about freely are even more striking on account of their varied and ceaseless movements. Let us next consider a few examples of this latter division,
Trachetius ovum, which I have taken from a lodgment of water in a meadow on New Year's Day, is from 1-50th to 1-80th of an inch long, or
